Current CPS Employees

The Title IV-E Child Welfare Partnership offers a program for current Child Protective Services (CPS) and Single Source Continuum Contractors (SSCC) employees in Title IV-E eligible positions in selected regions in Texas who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills by completing the MSW program.  Employee students continue to work full-time at CPS/SSCC, and participate in the part-time online MSW program.  Tuition and fees are covered by the Title IV-E CWP stipend, and employee students are under contract to continue working at CPS/SSCC after graduation for four months for every stipend received. 

Eligibility requirements:

• Applicants must have worked for CPS/SSCC for at least a year, and must currently work in a Title IV-E eligible position at CPS/SSCC in Regions 1, 2, 7, 8, or 9.  Title IV-E positions include, but are not limited to: Conservatorship, Foster/Adopt, Preparation for Adult Living, Kinship, Family Group Decision Making, and Local Permanency Specialists.  Contact your DFPS regional administration to request a complete list of Title IV-E eligible positions.  Employees must remain in a Title IV-E position while they are in the MSW program and during their payback period after graduation.

Application process:

• Applicants must first be accepted to the part-time online MSW program at Texas State University.  For an August start, the priority deadline to apply to the MSW program is January 1st. It is not guaranteed that applications submitted after January 1st will be reviewed.
• Once accepted into the MSW program at Texas State University, employees should contact the Regional Operations Support Administrator (ROSA) in their Region or the designated liaison at the SSCC to apply to receive Title IV-E funding. The application process differs based on the region and agency.
• There are limited funding slots available, and the designated child welfare agency makes the ultimate decision on who is selected to receive Title IV-E funding.  The official Title IV-E contract is between the student and DFPS, not the university.

For general questions about the Child Welfare Partnership program, please contact: cwpartnership@txstate.edu.